Medication

I went through a lengthy period, ending 6 years ago, of being prescribed (in turn) several SSRIs, and one SNRI. I didn't find any of them to be helpful in improving my mood, and there were some side effects (the SNRI was bad for increased appetite / weight gain). I'm sure they can be helpful in some cases - best to follow doctor's advice. But in my case what needs changing is not my brain chemistry. Rather, tangible changes to improve compatibility between me and the world around me.

Since diagnosis I've thought about things in a different context, also helped having some therapy.

I try to see anxiety as the symptoms, the cause being my autism. Sounds daft but separating them helps me to see where the issue is and what I might be able to do to fix it. For a sample, if I feel anxious, look to the trigger, maybe it's overthinking, then realise stopping the overthinking will reduce the anxiety, I then try and distract myself away from the thoughts.

It helps me to break things down this way as often the cause is something different but the anxiety or my reaction in general is the same.

I was on pregabalin for a year and it did zero for me.  Totally garbage medication. 

Before I was diagnosed autistic, I had previously been on (so many) medications for anxiety and depression. None of them had worked to any great extent, and some of them left me feeling so flat that i couldn't do anything. Some of them gave me such bad insomnia that I wanted to not be here any more.

Two years ago, I made the decision (with advice from my GP) to gradually come off the depression medication I was on at the time, as it had caused me to gain weight, which was negatively affecting my mood as I felt I did not look like myself, and hated being photographed and had no body confidence at all. 

I have now been medication free for a year, and my weight has returned to normal. (I'm pretty active generally, cycle to work, have a good diet and don't drink much alcohol, and I never take fizzy or flavoured drinks). This has massively helped with my general mood. I still have depression, but it's something I can (mostly) manage, because my baseline is no longer 'I hate myself and the way I look'. 

I was previously on pregabalin for restless legs, but I came off them as soon as I could because I didn't want to be on them long term.

Personally, I feel like most of my depression and anxiety is because I'm autistic and I didn't know it for so long, so I internalised everything and blamed myself for stuff I was struggling with. Now that I know there is a reason for it, I find it easier to recognise, cope with, and work out strategies to improve.

I found singing really helped with anxiety. I used to walk into the middle of the big field near me where no one could hear and just sing random stuff. I joined a casual choir at uni and quite enjoyed that as there was no pressure and we were all just beginners anyway.

I was on mirtazapine too. I didn’t really feel it helped my mood but it did make my head a little clearer - like I had more control of thoughts and urges. But I put on 8 or 9kg and eventually decided  the benefits didn’t warrant the extra weight.

Once I weaned myself off I lost the extra weight quite rapidly but I have also since realised that I didn’t burn out while I was on it and i am now back in a burnout cycle.

Eunicemod: I'm not sure whether what I feel is really the same as the anxiety that Allists feel. As an autistic person I tend to overthink which results in considering too many outcomes for a planned action. As such, I feel the trigger us internal and nit due to an external stimulus. Does thus make sense?

Interesting. There seems to be a theme here. I too have been on various antidepressants and and had CBT etc. many times.

When I finally realised I am autistic I was on mirtazapine but immediately weaned myself off slowly and after discussion with and under guidance from my GP. What I found was that the mirtazapine appeared to delay burnouts and meltdowns. However,  I cannot be sure of this. 

Personally, I have found mindfulness and relaxation exercises very useful to head off meltdowns. I have also learned relaxation exercises to the extent that I can just switch relaxation on in a moment. Taking myself off to somewhere quiet and dark also helps or a walk in the countryside or park. I have also accepted that my brain works very hard and fast for short periods but it needs to rest more than fir others.

Hope this helps.

My doc has suggested antidepressants to help when I hit burnout, but I'm wary because I was also told at diagnosis that they "suspect" I also have  ADHD, but as it was an ASD diagnosis they could "diagnose it officially". 

Reading up I find theres a lot of conflict between the two and medication could make things worse. 

I did the same with alcohol (still do at times) , it's something I try and keep under control, I'm far better off it but can't do social events without it, then in comes the obsessive side of me and I have way too much, regret it for days after, then eventually repeat it all the next time.

Coffee and tea at the right time helps or hinders in different ways, sometimes increases the anxiety, other times calms it and helps me focus when my head's trying to do everything on earth at once.

I find most medication I've had over the years for other things (asthma, allergies etc ) will possibly work but when it does will cause other worse issues so I tend to avoid it .

Hi, I'm probably in the same boat as you. I've taken just about every SSRI and SNRI going over the last 30 years or so.

I mentioned GAD to to one of the mental health doctors to see if I could be prescribed Pregabalin as it's often what is prescribed if standard treatment fails, I was told that I had the wrong type of depression (whatever that is).

Instead I was given Sertraline and quitepine which was awful as it caused depersonalisation.

Apparently I'm treatment resistant and have been left to find my own way.

Now I'm completely unmedicated and I feel exactly the same.

I am also autistic and have a GAD diagnosis. There are breathing exercises that have a physiological effect on anxiety and panic attacks. Essentially they involve breathing out for a much longer time than breathing in. There are instruction podcasts available on YouTube. They also reduce blood pressure. They can be used either before or during a stressful situation, or can be used daily to help control long term anxiety levels.

Dear Judetheobtuse,

Thank you for sharing this with the community. You may like to have a look at the mental health section of our website which has useful links to information and advice about a range of mental health issues: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health  

The information on this page may be of particular interest: Anxiety https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/anxiety  

Just kindly remind about the Community Rule 6: No medical or legal advice. Do not offer medical or legal advice. Always seek professional help for these matters. Treat any medical or legal information shared as the opinion of the user who posted it and meant for general discussion purposes only. 

Thank you. I hope this helps!

With all good wishes,

Eunice Mod